Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-06
HOW TOM BAXTER SAW THE
UNIVERSITY MATCH.
from the London Truth.


The Rev Thos Baxter was curate of the mus
cular energetic type which, fortunately for the
church. Is turned out not unfreQuently Dy our uni
versities and public schools. He was big, broad
shOuldered young man, who, besides distinguish
ing himself greatly, both on the river and In the
cr1cketfeld had taken very respectable degree,
for he was by no means afraid OF hard work OF any
description such men often make capital par
sons and Tom was hardly less energetic In his
parish work than he had been In very different
spheres OF action at Eaton and oxford. But there
were Limits TO Mr.. Baxter's endurance; he
liked an occasional holiday, and this was
the only point upon which he and his vicar,
the Rev. Septimus Straightway, were not entirely
agreed The Rev. SeptiInus was an earnest man.
and took severe and gloomy view OF the pleas
end parish: knew nothing and cared less about
outdoor spOrtS-Or, In fact, any form or amuse-
ment; and fully expected his curates TO follow un
hesitatingly In the extremely narrow and steep
path up which he led them. Hence IL came to pass
that Mr.. Stralghtway experienced considerable
difficulty In finding curateS after his own heart
the young men were continually leaving him for
less arduOus duties, and the Wears opinion OF
human nature IN general, and OF the younger gen
GRAFTON OF curates in particular, steadily grew
worse. In Tom Baxter, however, he really thought
that he possessed a treasure, and the danger OF
working willing horse TO death never so much as
entered into his head.
Poor Tom did his very best to satisfy Mr..
Stralghtway'S requirements, for ne really re,
spected the man, and valued Immensely his good
opinion; but, as has already been Indicated, he
could not help longing that his superior would
enter little more into his own harmless liking
FOR occasional relief, and sympathse with his pas
sion for cricket rowing, and all that was connected
with athletics.
AT the time write Of the cricket season was In
full swing; but Toms duties had not merely pre-
vented him from playing In single match, but
even from looking on at one for a few hours from
the roof OF the pavilion at Lords. Moreover, the
university cricket match, in which he took an ab-
sOrbing interest, was fast approaching, and he was
sorely troubled By the dread that he might not be
able 10 SEE 1t. This fear haunted him day and
night II worried him during his visiting and
mission work, spoilt his rest and occasionally OBJ
truded itself upon him In the pulpit. Even the
absent-minded Mr.. Straightway at length noticed
that his curates mind was Ill at ease, and one day
he went so far as TO inquire the cause. Tom Stam-
mered out something about being out OF sorts,
and ventured TO hint that he thought days hOll-
day would do him good.
s'When / was your age, Mr.. Baxter, / never
wanted holiday" replied the austere vicar; "but
to-day IS the oath OF June. In about a fortnight
think can arrange day for you Say the 18th
OF July"
"Cant 1t be managed a week sooner" Queried
Tom, desperately, for the University match was
fixed for the 4th.
aQuite impossible, fear said the vicar, deci-
sively, for ne WAS terrible martinez with his
curateS. SO, with wave of his hand, he dismissed
the subject, and Tom knew that further appeal
'It's rather too bad, (" grumbled Mr.. Baxter, as
he walked home to his humble lodgings. "But 1t
Is use talking TO him about cricket; he doesn't
know bat from ball. And, with heavy heart,
he tried TO resign himself TO The Inevitable.
which entirely routed Toms virtuouS resolutions.
A letter arrived at the reverend gentlemanS
lodgings which was couched in the following
terms:
"HEATHEcoTE HALL, LoAMsHIRR.
"DEAREsT ToM,-We are actually coming to
town! only for two days, though; and we are
going TO Lords 10 see the match. Uncle has got a
drag there, block b. OF course shall never for
give you II you don't come and see me; on We'd
nesday afternoon we go TO Essex to stay with the
ChilyertOns so this Is our only chance Of meeting.
DO come; in terrible haste.
Yours lovingly, ALICRn
From the foregoing 1t may be gathered that Miss
Alice Heathcote and Mr.. Tom Baxter were on toll
sraoiy intimate terms. As matter OF fact they
had been engaged for six months, during which
time they had very rarely met. Baxters people
were well on, and he had a very rich uncle,
living, destined in the future for Tom and his
bride. But the uncle was q stern and conScfen-
tious gentleman, and he was determined before
he definitely agreed to give Tom the vacancy
when IL occurred-to see what that young gentle
man was made OF: And this was why Baxter had
been sent TO help Mr.. Straightway In the East-end
why he worked so hard In the parish, and why he
was SO desperately anxious to stand high in his
When Tom read this letter, his first impulse, un-
clerical though it may appear, was TO use strong
language. But he restrained himself, and fell to
his duties. fresh appeal TO Mr.. straightway he
knew 10 be hopeless. That worthy ascetic did not
only look upon cricket as frivolous waste OF
OF the clergy. Moreover, by merely asking the
question Tom might offend him, and this he GER
stances. There was nothing for it then but a
pious fraud, and although Toms conscience re-
trusted him implicitly, he could not make up his
mind TO d1sappoint Alice, or to deny himself the
pleasure OF seeing her. He might, under more IA
vorable circumstances, have d1ned at her uncle's
house In Portman square, but as luck would have
tr be had undertaken TO conduct an evening class
on both nights OF her stay in town. SO he wrote
very afYectionate answer, promising that NOTHING
short OF an earthquake should prevent Linn from
appearing at Lords and he at once set to work to
MI f0Pf hE
way.
on the day before that on which he had prom.
ised TO meet his intended Tom told his vicar that
he was passing the night with very old friend
who had just come home from India, In his rooms
near Jermyn street. This, It must be said, was
could offer no valid objection, as Baxter had done
all his work for the day. The next morning. how
sT u1; Ion Sas SUM- ON 70 telegraph ONCE and In
ne was suneIing from severe attack OF lumbago,
but would, If possible. return in the evening
of the ground was so welcome to him that he Was
determined TO spend as much time there as he nos
certain TO meet any number of his old friends and
That the whole proceeding was extremely risky:
but he consoled himself with the thought that as
Of any sort, he was not at all likely to hear any
thing about II. So he ensconced himself In the
pavilion and awaited the beginning Of the play
were all enthusiastic cricketers and he counted on
their appearance by II O'Clock at the latest.
Us varying fortunes IL Is not necessary TO dwell
The .HeathcoteS also arrived, and Tom at once
look up a position on the drag by the side of Miss
Alice, the warmth Of whose greeting speedily
banished all fears and qualms or conscience from
Ills breast Nothing, In fact, could have been
more perfect than Mr.. Bakers happiness up no
The luncheon interval His stentorian .wen hitn
Or well BOWED" could be heard q hundred wards
away; he clapped his hands, stamped and waved
his hat Ike the verteSt SchOOlboy, and meanwhile
he was unremitting in his attention To the girl of
his heart Two O'Clock struck. The bell rang for
lunch, and the occupants OF Mr.. HeathcOtes
drag prepared for the substantial meal which
forms so prominent feature OF the two great
matches at Lords Tom By no means des-
pissed creature comforts. Mr.. Straightway's Gu
rates were expected, at all events when with him
and on duty, 10 follow their wears example In
aScetic1Sn, so good lunch was very acceptable TO
him. He had supplied Alice'S wants, and was in
the act or lifting 10 his mouth piece of salmon
when suddenly he turned pale, his jaw fell, his
eyes d1lated, and the piece of salmon accompanied
py the fork, fell unheeded 10 the ground.
IL was too true. Beside the very next drag
talking TO a gentleman on the bOx-seat, stood a
tall, lean man, in clerical attire whose fgure was
horribly familiar 10 the guilty curate. lie could
not De mistaken, IL was Mr. Septimus Straight
way, though what could have brought the reyer-
end gentleman 10 Lords was beyond Toms imag-
1natiOn. The vicar had his back turned and
evidently did not suspect his curate's proximity
Instant flight was the only hope.
Good gracious, Toni" cried Miss Alice "What
on earth Is the matter? You look as white as a
Sheet"
II don't feel very WELL dear Excuse me one
minute" stammered Mr.. Baxter And he rose